The ultimate 16 days road trip through Iceland
9 days Itinerary (Coming Soon)
Iceland is known for its spectacular landscapes, with volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and geothermal activity. If you are looking for an unforgettable adventure, a 16-day road trip around Iceland is the perfect choice. In this article, we take you on a daily journey along the highlights of this enchanting country.
How to get around in Iceland
Public transportation in Iceland is outside of Reykjavik mostly by regional buses. There are buses running through the whole country, which you can view on this website. We recommend that you rent a car, due to the limited places where you can get to with public transport. We are researching all the information about transportation in Iceland for you and are going to bundle it in a future article. In Iceland, staying overnight is quite expensive, so to save money you can also rent a car with a rooftop tent. We recommend that you take a 4×4, because then you are allowed to drive on F-roads, which you’re not allowed to with a regular car.
Reykjavik City Card
If you are staying in Reykjavik, it is handy to purchase this card in advance. You can purchase the card for one to three days. With this card, you can travel with all the city buses and access to the museums and thermal baths are free. We have written an article that tells you everything you need to know. If you want to know more, you can view and book everything here.
How many days do you need for this itinerary
For this itinerary we recommend that you allow 16 days. If you have a different travel pace, you can also speed up or slow down at the Golden or Diamond Circle or visit Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) for a day longer. Maybe you want to drive via the Arctic Coast Way, on which we will post an article later on. Or check out the 9-day itinerary for Southern Iceland which is coming soon. This way, you can create your own custom trip!
Tip: Check here if all the roads are open. This is especially important in the winter months when there is a lot of snow.
Day 1: Reykjavik
Today you arrive at the airport and you can pick up your rental car immediately. You drive 50 minutes to Reykjavik, the vibrant capital of Iceland. Did you rent your car in Reykjavík? No worries, because there is also a bus to the capital from the airport. So today you spend the first few hours exploring the city. You can walk down Laugavegur (the main street) and walk along Skólavörðustígur, which leads you to the Hallgrímskirkja church. You can also visit the Sun Voyager statue for a beautiful spot next to the water and enjoy the lively atmosphere in Reykjavík. Take some time today to do some shopping for the rest of your trip. If you stay in Reykjavik for a few more days, you can read about that in our upcoming article.
Hotelrecommendation Reykjavik: 100 Iceland Hotel. On the Laugavegur 100 you’ll find this centrally located hotel. With easy access to all attractions in Reykjavik, this is a perfect spot to stay during your time here.
Day 2: Golden Circle and Kerid Crater
In the morning, you will leave early for the Golden Circle route. The first stop is Thingvellir National Park, where you will walk on the fault line between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. A beautiful one-and-a-half-hour hike, with a waterfall, planks over the water and a beautiful nature park.
Continue the journey to the Geysir Geothermal Area, where you will witness the spectacular eruptions of a geyser. Strokkur erupts every 5 to 7 minutes, shooting a beautiful stream of hot water out of the ground. Geysir, a geyser of 3 meters wide and 23 meters deep and after which the area is named, is unfortunately dormant.
Enjoy the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, where you can walk all the way next to the waterfall. So enjoy the brute and natural power. The last stop of the day is the peaceful crater of Kerid, where you can take a short walk through it.
Hotel recommendation Kerid: Solheimar Eco-Village Guesthouse. This guesthouse has excellent facilities for an overnight stay and you can also visit the Golden Circle activities from the guesthouse. You also support a good cause with this, as it provides accommodation for people with a distance to the labor market.
Hotel recommendations Selfoss: Hotel Selfoss. Here you can sleep comfortably on the nice and soft beds in this centrally located hotel and enjoy an amazing breakfast.
Day 3 + 4: Reykjadalur and Vestmannaeyjar
After your overnight stay you can go to Reykjadalur, which means “Steam Valley”. Upon arrival on the parking lot, you begin a hike through the mountains of about three kilometers. When you reach the hot springs you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the warm water. While you enjoy the natural thermal baths, which you can visit for free, you are surrounded by the natural beauty of Iceland and you can relax and unwind. A complete article of this route will be available here soon.
Drive to the port of Landeyjahöfn and take the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar, a group of beautiful islands off the south coast of Iceland. You have to book the ferry in advance, if you want to take the car with you. You can do that on this website. Explore the breathtaking landscapes, steep cliffs and see the many puffins. Visit Eldfell, the volcano that erupted in 1973, and enjoy the breathtaking views from the top. Or wander through the grasslands on the south side of the island, where there are a lot of puffins. But you can also visit the Beluga Whale Sanctuary, where two rescued whales live and puffins are taken in. For an extensive article on Vestmannaeyjar, you can check the site later on.
Hotel recommendation Vestmannaeyjar: Westman Islands Inn. A hotel in a perfect location to be able to visit everything with your preferred transportation. You can stay in clean and comfortable rooms and receive the perfect Icelandic hospitality.
Tip: If you want to climb Herjólfsdalur, then camping Þórsvöllur tjaldsvæði (Thórsvöllur tjaldsvedi) is a recommendation. This is right next to it!
Day 5: Waterfalls and Vík
After you come of the boat, you drive towards Vik. Take the Ringroad 1, so you come across four powerful waterfalls. First, the Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the waterfall. About a hundred meters further lies the Gljúfrabúi, which is hidden in a cave.
A half an hour later you come across the Skógafoss, a 60-meter high and 25-meter wide waterfall. You can also view it from above. To do this, take the stairs that you can find on the side of the waterfall. You can even go for hike next to the river. When you’re back, you can park your car five minutes further on, where you will come to the much quieter and less well-known Kvernufoss. You can find an extensive report on these four waterfalls later on.
From here you drive on to Vík, a charming town on the south coast of Iceland. Along the way you can enjoy the beautiful landscape, with black sand beaches and imposing rock formations. In Vík itself there is more than enough to do with excursions, such as a glacier tour, ice cave tour and the Icelandic Lava Tour. You can find a complete description of Vík and the surrounding area soon here.
Hotel recommendation Vík: Guesthouse Carina. Be sure to book here in advance, as this hotel with spacious rooms and great views is often fully booked. You have views of the mountains, the sea and the town of Vík.
Day 6 + 7: Thakgil
In the morning you drive to Thakgil, an area where you can go for beautiful walks, with stunning routes through the mountains and with views of the glacier. There is a campsite and a cabin rental at Thakgil. A remote place to spend the night in the middle of the Icelandic nature. You can also choose to sleep in a hotel, which is located on the ring road, 45 minutes drive from the campsite. We have made a complete article of the most important routes in an article that will be posted soon. Because the road towards Thakgil is a gravel road, we recommend that you rent a 4×4, which makes the drive a lot easier.
Hotel recommendation Thakgil: Hotel Katla. This hotel is located on the main road and you can have a wonderful stay here. Especially if you decide to explore Thakgil but don’t want to camp out, this is a welcome place to relax.
Tip: The routes can be combined as one long route to do in one day, but you will get the most out of it if you stay in Thakgil for two or maybe even three days.
Day 8: Fjadrargljufur, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón
Today you will drive towards Skaftafell National Park. But before you get there, you make a stop at the Fjadrargljufur Canyon, which is located right next to the road. Here you can enjoy one of the most beautiful canyons in Iceland from above.
Hiking is possible, but we recommend only doing so in good weather in spring or summer. Otherwise the water is too high. Even in spring and summer, you can expect wet feet, so waterresistant shoes are definitely a good idea to bring with you.
Continue your journey to Skaftafell National Park, a paradise for hikers, where you can have a great time in the surroundings. Make a hike to Svartifoss, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by basalt columns, which looks like an old organ. From Skaftafell National Park, drive to Fjallsarlon, where you can walk peacefully and watch the glacier lake in all its calm, as it is not yet well-known to many tourists.
Next, drive to Jökulsárlón, a stunning glacier lagoon full of floating icebergs. Touch the water for a moment to feel it, but not too long, as it is dangerously cold. If you then follow the icebergs towards the sea, you will come to Diamond Beach. This black beach is strewn with ice that you can touch and climb onto. There are guesthouses and hostels in the area for overnight stays.
Hotel recommendation at the lagoon: Ekra Glacier Lagoon. With rooms that have a view on a waterfall and a mountain, you want to stay here even longer. The beds are very comfortable and the interior is done amazingly.
Day 9: Höfn
Drive to Höfn, a picturesque fishing village on the east coast of Iceland. Enjoy fresh seafood and take a walk along the harbor. If you are adventurous, you can take a glacier walk on the nearby Vatnajökull glacier. Also visit Stokksnes, where you can take beautiful walks along the coast over the black sand beach and visit a real Viking village film set. This costs you about seven euros for the car and then you can spend the whole day there. This is also the place to visit Vestrahorn, also known as the Batman Mountain.
Hotel recommendation: Arnanes Country Hotel. Here you can perfectly stay in clean and modern rooms. Breakfast is also arranged in the morning with hot drinks. Certainly a solution, because it can be quite cold in the morning.
Day 10: Seyðisfjörður
From Höfn, you can take two routes, with the coastal road via road 1 taking half an hour longer than via road 95, but it is much more beautiful. From Egilsstaðir, you drive through the beautiful mountain pass. Here you’ll arrive in the coastal town of Seyðisfjörður.
Surrounded by mountains and fjords, this remote yet picturesque village is known for its colorful wooden houses. Seyðisfjörður also has a vibrant artistic scene, with art galleries and an annual music festival that takes place around July and August. The natural surroundings are breathtaking, with numerous waterfalls such as the Gugufoss, and many hiking trails.
Hotel recommendation Seyðisfjörður: Seydisfjördur Guesthouse. The big and well-equipped kitchen makes it easy to brew some coffee or cook a meal. The rooms are clean and cozy and offer a beautiful view over the fjords.
Day 11: Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, Húsavík
Today you will drive towards the north, so you can start your adventure of the Diamond Circle. This is the counterpart of the Golden Circle. First you come across the Dettifoss waterfall, the most powerful waterfall in Europe where you feel the ground shake when you are close. Then you drive on to Ásbyrgi, the god’s valley, created in the shape of a horseshoe. Because of the beautiful surroundings, this is a gorgeous place to walk around and explore the nature in Iceland.
As your last stop, you will go to Húsavík, a fishing village which is famous for spotting whales. For more information on the route, check out our Diamond Circle report later here.
Hotel recommendation Húsavík: Hótel Goðafoss Fosshóll. With a great overview over the Godafoss waterfall you will have the best view from a hotel you’ll ever have. This is the best place to stay, because tomorrow you’ll visit the Godafoss. With a distance of only 700 meters from the waterfall you can make a beautiful morning walk after, or before breakfast.
Tip: If you want to do the full Diamond Circle, you can also go to Hverir, a sulfurous mud plain. You can also visit the Hverfjall volcano, the Grjótagjá cave and the Mývatn thermal baths, to complete the experience.
Day 12: Godafoss, Akureyri
After Húsavík you’ll head in the direction of the Godafoss, the God’s Waterfall. Again a gigantic force of nature. You then drive to Akureyri where you can visit the Laufas settlement, a turf farm like in the old days. Don’t forget to visit the large church and the botanical gardens. You can also see whales from here, if you didn’t succeed earlier. Soon there will be an article about Akureyri, the capital of the north.
Hotel recommendation Akureyri: K16Apartments. The perfect location to walk straight into the city centre and you’re close to the church. With a washer and dryer you can move on with fresh clothing for the rest of the trip.
Tip: Stay at the Hofsos campground. If you can, drive via Siglufjörður through the old tunnels. A bit of a detour, but definitely worth it. From the campsite you can go to the local infinity pool, a 3-minute walk away.
Day 13: Kolugljufor Canyon
From Akureyri you can continue along Route 1 towards Reykjavik. This takes you to the Kolugljufor Canyon, where the Víðidalsá River flows. This river is known as one of the best salmon rivers in Iceland for fishing, so this is your chance to see salmon swim. It is also a beautiful hiking area through and around the kilometer-long canyon. And you definitely have to check out the Kolugljufor waterfall.
From the canyon, you drive towards Hvitserkur, where you can see the 15-meter high rock that looks like an elephant. But you could also see a dragon or rhinoceros in it. After you take the easily accessible walking path to the beach, you can explore the magnificent rock. The last place you’ll visit is the town of Búðardalur, because of the great coastal views.
Hotel recommendation Búðardalur: Dalakot Buldardal. This guesthouse has an amazing in-house restaurant, which will provide you with free coffee and tea and of course an amazing breakfast. The rooms are clean and the beds are very comfortable.
Day 14: Snæfellsnes-peninsula
In the west lies the picturesque Snæfellsnes peninsula. Admire the Snæfellsjökull glacier, visit the black sand beaches of Djúpalónssandur and enjoy the atmosphere of charming fishing villages such as Grundarfjörður and Arnarstapi. Also visit the museum The Fisherman’s Garden, for a glimpse at the houses of the fishermen of old.
Hotel recommendation Snæfellsnes: Gamla Rif. This old farm was once converted into a coffee shop and is now a guesthouse. With the shared living room, you have a good chance of meeting other travelers. And because you are close to the coast and the museums this is the perfect stay.
Day 15: Reykjanes peninsula
From Snæfellsnes, it is a beautiful drive to the Reykjanes peninsula. Explore the unique landscape with lava fields, boiling mud pools and the powerful geothermal fields of Gunnuhver. Of course you must pay a visit to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing bath in the geothermal water. Book these tickets well in advance, as they only allow a limited number of people in per day. When you are more interested in an active volcano, you can visit Grindavikubaer. Because of the recent eruptions, this is a beautiful site to look at. You can even take a tour with a geologist here! Afterwards you can stay in the area or drive to Reykjavik where you leave your rental car and have one last day and night in the capital.
Hotel recommendation Grindavik: Hotel Grindavik. This hotel offers an amazing breakfast and the owners are there for your perfect stay. With shuttle buses to the Blue Lagoon, or stay here for 2 nights and then go to the airport by taxi service? It can all be done without any hassle.
Hotel recommendation Reykjavik: Center Hotels Plaza. A beautiful room in a central place in Old Town. You can enjoy breakfast in the hotel or find one of the many restaurants in the area. Very close to a lot of musea as well.
Day 16: Reykjavik
You will spend your last day in Reykjavik and if didn’t take the time before than you can use the Reykjavik City Card now. Or explore the city further and visit museums such as Perlan and the Saga Museum. OR you can enjoy the charming shops and boutiques, such as the (year round) Christmas shop or the souvenir shops. Depending on when your flight is, you can have a drink on Laugavegur, the high street of Reykjavik. After you’ve enjoyed the capital the best way you could take the bus to the airport because it only takes 45 minutes to get there. Or you can drive and leave the rental car there as well.
Hotel recommendation Keflavik: B&B Guesthouse – Bed and Breakfast Keflavik Centre. A perfect guesthouse for your flight, because you can arrange your own breakfast and leave when you need to be at the airport. The ride there is also completely arranged and free.
This road trip through to Iceland was an adventure to keep on looking back to. It is an island with many hidden beauties. There is plenty to discover and see. If you want to learn more about travelling the country, check out our articles on the Diamond Circle, Golden Circle or the Arctic Coast Way, which will come soon! We hope you have been inspired by reading this article and will have a great time in Iceland. Let us know how it was!
